Air flow controller

ABSTRACT

An air flow controller has an adjustable air flow passageway and comprises a surface-mounted distribution frame housing one or more elongate passages. Each passage has an inlet, a flow channel and an outlet. The inlet has two opposed guide flaps to control the flow of air passing into the flow channel. Two opposed wall members define the width of the channel, the wall members being adapted to be position-adjusted on control movement of the guide flaps with the outer ends of the wall members defining the outlet.

This invention relates to an air flow controller, for use in air flowsituations including inter alia forced air central heating, to controlair passing through an air diffuser opening.

In the heating, ventillation and air conditioning sector of the buildingservices industry, there is a requirement for an air flow controllerhaving an adjustable air flow passageway.

Accordingly, the present invention is an air flow controller having anadjustable air flow capacity comprising a surface-mounted distributionframe housing one or more elongate passages, each passage having aninlet, a flow channel and an outlet, the inlet having two opposed guidemeans to control the flow of air passing into the flow channel, twoopposed wall members defining the width of the channel, the wall membersbeing adapted to be position-adjusted on control movement of the guidemeans with the outer ends of the wall members defining the outlet.

Preferably, the two opposed guide means for the or each passage are twoelongate devices, each having a shaft, the pair of shafts each mountinga similar component having a planar control side, the shafts beingcounter-rotatable together to vary or close the opening therebetween. Aseal is preferably provided between each shaft and the frame.

Preferably also, two or more elongate passages are provided, the pair ofshafts of the guide means for each passage being inter-connected wherebyon movement of one pair of shafts corresponding movement is made by theother pair(s) of shafts. Each component is preferably a flaptangentially mounted on the respective shaft.

Preferably further, corresponding wall members of the flow channel ofthe or each passage are hinged along the edge of the inner side of therespective flap. The wall members, near to their outer side, eachpreferably has a pin engaged in an arcuate slot in an end wall of theframe, the slots for each passage being divergent outwardly. The outerends of the wall members are beneficially parallel if curved to extendbeyond the front of the frame. For each guide means, the side of thehinged wall member is shaped and the inner side of the respective flapis preferably of complementary shape at its channel-defining face.

The frame is desirably of rectangular shape having a surrounding framefor surface-engagement with a reverse surround extension with provisionfor one or more passages therein.

The surround extension desirably has two end walls, two side walls withan intermediate longitudinal passage-dividing wall for each passageprovided. Depending on the length of each-passage in the frame, one ormore intermediate transverse support partitions may be provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air flow controller according toa first embodiment of the present invention, showing respectively thecontroller in a fully open position, with a semi-closed position beingshown in broken line;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one end of a diffuser frame having threepassages according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the other end of the diffuser frame havingfour passages according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view to a smaller scale of a diffuser framehaving two passages according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a partial end view in the direction of arrow "A" on FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an end wall for a passage in a frame accordingto any one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view on an intermediate passage-dividingwall;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a hinged joint between a flap and awall member of each passage; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a room showing an air flowcontroller mounted in a ceiling thereof.

Referring to the drawings, an air flow controller has an adjustable airflow passageway in general comprises a surface-mounted distributionframe 10 housing one or more elongate passages 12. Each passage 12 hasan inlet 14, a flow channel 16 and an outlet 18. The inlet 14 has twoopposed guide means to control the flow of air passing into the flowchannel 16.

The two opposed guide means for the or each passage are two elongatedevices, each having a shaft 20. The pair of shafts 20 each mount asimilar component having a planar control side, the shafts 20 beingcounter-rotatable together to vary or close the opening therebetween.Each component is a flap 22 tangentially mounted on the respective shaft20. A seal is provided between each shaft 20 and the part of the frame10 against which it is movable.

Two or more elongate passages are provided, the pair of shafts of theguide means for each passage being inter-connected whereby on movementof one pair of shafts corresponding movement is made by the otherpair(s) of shafts.

Two opposed wall members 24 define the width of the channel 16, the wallmembers 24 being adapted to be position-adjusted on control movement ofthe guide means with the outer ends of the wall members 24 defining theoutlet 18.

Corresponding wall members 24 of the flow channel 16 of the or eachpassage 12 are hinged at 26 along the edge of the inner side of therespective flap 22. The wall members 24, near to their outer side, eachhas a pin 27 engaged in an arcuate slot 28 in an end wall 30 of theframe 10. The slots 28 for each passage 12 are divergent outwardly asshown in FIG. 6. The outer ends of the wall members 24 are parallellycurved as shown at 32 to extends beyond the front of the frame 10. Foreach guide means, the side of the hinged wall member 24 is shaped at itschannel defining face as shown in FIG. 8 to receive the inner side ofthe respective flap 22 which is of complementary shape.

The frame 10 is of rectangular shape having an a surrounding frame 34for surface-engagement with a reverse surround extension 36 withprovision for one or more passages 12 therein. The surround extension 36has two end walls 30, two side walls 38 with an intermediatelongitudinal passage-dividing wall 40 for each passage 10 provided.Depending on the length of each passage 12 in the frame 10, one or moreintermediate transverse support partitions 42 is provided. Each sidewall 38 is inwardly shaped to converge towards the guide means and has aconcave recess to receive the corresponding shaft 20 as shown. Eachdividing wall 40 is shaped as two back-to-back end walls 30. Each endwall 30 and each partition 42 having bearing holes to receive bearingsthrough which the respective shafts extends and also the slots 28.

The shafts 20 are extended at one end of the frame 10 and cogs 44 aremounted thereon. The cogs 44 of each pair of shafts 20 mesh together torotate in a counterclockwise direction and if two or more pairs ofshafts 20 are provided, these are interlinked. One shaft 20 of the firstpair of shafts 20 is driven through a coupling from a drive shaft of anelectric motor 46 integrated into an electric circuit (not shown) andoperable, for example, automatically by a remote temperature sensitiveroom control switch (not shown), or a manually operable ON/OFF switch(not shown), or a manually operable infrared remote control switch (notshown).

In a first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 8 and 9, the air flowcontroller is as described above, and in use is integrated into a forcedair distribution system 48 as shown in FIG. 9, the frame being recessedinto prepared openings in a wall 50 or ceiling 52. Air fed from thesystem under pressure flows into the passage and delivers it into theroom 54 in the form of a jet air stream. The width of the passage 12 canbe adjusted by operation of the motor 46, the angular adjustment of theflaps 22 towards the vertical reducing or dampening the flow of airpassing into the channel 16 and therefore passing out through the outlet18, and towards the horizontal, increasing the flow of air passing intothe channel 16. Movement of the flaps 22 causes corresponding movementof the pins 26 in slots 28 so that the width of the channel 16 at theinlet 14 and at the outlet 18 is constant.

In the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and in which likeparts are denoted by like numerals, different widths of frames are shownto accommodate two, three and four passages 12 respectively. Thepassages 12 in each of the different sized frames 10 operate in the sameway as the single passage described above, the operation of the motor46, causing all the cogs 44 to simultaneously operate the flaps 22 ofthe respective pairs of guide means.

In a first modification, the flaps 22 may be replaced by other shapedcomponents providing a planar control side, for example quadrant shapedcomponents.

In a second modification, frame 10 may be shaped to protrude convexlyfrom the surface, and the outlets 18 may discharge straight ahead ratherthan be deflected as described above.

Variations and other modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter.

I claim:
 1. An air flow controller having an adjustable air flowpassageway comprising a surface-mounted distribution frame that housesat least one elongate passage, said at least one elongate passage havingan inlet (14), a central flow channel (16) and an outlet (18), the inlethaving first and second opposed guide means (22) to control the flowchannel, said first and second opposed guide means for the air passagecomprise first and second elongate devices, each of said first andsecond elongate devices being secured to a first and a second shaft,each first and second shaft being counter-rotatable together to vary orclose the opening between said first and second elongate devices, firstand second opposed parallel wall members (24) defining the width of thechannel, the first and second opposed wall members being individuallypivotably secured to the distal end of the first and second elongatedevices to define the outlet whereby control movement of the guide meansposition-adjusts the wall members.
 2. An air flow controller accordingto claim 1, wherein a seal is provided between said first and secondshaft and the frame.
 3. An air flow controller according to claim 1,wherein at least two elongate passages are provided with guide means, apair of first and second shafts are provided for the guide means foreach passage, said pair of said first and second shafts of each guidemeans being inter-connected whereby on movement of one pair of shaftscorresponding movement is made by the other pair(s) of shafts.
 4. An airflow controller according to claim 2, wherein at least two elongatepassages are provided with guide means, a pair of first and secondshafts are provided for the guide means for each passage, said pair ofsaid first and second shafts of each guide means being inter-connectedwhereby on movement of one pair of shafts a corresponding movement ismade by the other pair(s) of shafts.
 5. An air flow controller accordingto claim 1, wherein each of said first and second elongate devices is aflap tangentially mounted on their respective shaft.
 6. An air flowcontroller according to claim 5, wherein corresponding wall members ofthe flow channel of each of said first and second elongate devicesinclude a hinge.
 7. An air flow controller according to claim 1, whereineach of said first and second wall members (24) include a pin (27) nearto their outer end, each pin engages an arcuate slot (28) in an end wall(30) of the frame, and the arcuate slots in each end wall divergeoutwardly.
 8. An air flow controller according to claim 7, wherein theouter ends of the first and second wall members are curved to extendbeyond a front of the frame.
 9. An air flow controller according toclaim 6, wherein for each said first and second guide means, a surfaceof the hanged wall members has a complementary shape with an innersurface of a respective flap along a channel defining face whereby theair-flow surfaces of the first and second elongated devices and the wallmembers are coordinated to provide a substantially smooth passagetherethrough.
 10. An air flow controller according to claim 7, whereinfor each said first and second guide means, a surface of the hinged wallmembers has a complementary shape with an inner surface of a respectiveflap along a channel defining face whereby the air-flow surfaces of thefirst and second elongate devices and the wall members are coordinatedto provide a substantially smooth passage therethrough
 11. An air flowcontroller according to claim 8, wherein for each said first and secondguide means, a surface of the hinged wall members has a complementaryshape with an inner surface of a respective flap along a channeldefining face whereby the air-flow surface of the first and secondelongate devices and the wall members are coordinated to provide asubstantially smooth passage therethrough.
 12. An air flow controlleraccording to claim 1, wherein the surface mounted distribution frame isof rectangular shape having an upstanding surrounding wall (36) forsurface-engagement with a surrounding flat wall extension (34) in whichthe surface mounted distribution frame has a provision for one or morepassages therein.
 13. An air flow controller according to claim 12,wherein the upstanding surrounding wall (36) has two opposed parallelend walls (30), two opposed parallel side walls (38) with anintermediate longitudinal passage-dividing wall (40) which is parallelwith said opposed parallel side walls.
 14. An air flow controlleraccording to claim 13, wherein depending on the length of each passagein the frame, one or more intermediate transverse support partitions maybe provided.
 15. An air flow controller having an adjustable air flowpassageway comprising a surface-mounted distribution frame that housesat least one elongate passage, said at least one elongate passage havingan inlet (14), a central flow channel 16) and an outlet (18), the inlethaving first and second opposed guide means (22) to control the flowchannel, said first and second opposed guide means for the air passagecomprise first and second complementary elongate devices, each of saidfirst and second elongate devices being secured to a first and a secondshaft, each first and second shaft being simultaneouslycounter-rotatable together to vary or close the opening between saidfirst and second elongate devices, first and second complementaryopposed parallel wall members (24) defining whereby width of thechannel, the first and second opposed wall members are individuallypivotably secured to the distal end of the first and second elongatedevices to control movement of the guide means whereby said first andsecond guide means and said first and second opposed wall members definea substantially smooth passage to the outlet.